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Desi punches her lightly on the shoulder, but then leans in to give her a kiss that has me looking away from them with pink cheeks.
Sam goes to the bar to get us drinks, and Desi pulls me into the bench on one side of the table. “What do you think?”
“I think you and I have very similar tastes,” I mutter, and her brows lower in concern.
“What do you mean, Ro?”
“Is Sam’s last name Yorke, by any chance?” The widening of her eyes is enough to answer my question. I nod, not believing how shit my luck is. “I go to school with her brother, Hardin. Of course, I can’t escape him, even after a fourteen hour plane ride.”
“If he’s anything like Sam, why would you want to escape him?” My sister giggles. “I mean, he’s gotta be at least half as hot as she is, right?”
This strikes my jetlagged brain as hilarious, and I laugh until I have tears streaming down my face. Desi giggles along with me, but her expression is more confused than amused and when Sam rejoins us and places a pint in front of me, she looks equally confused.
“What’s so funny?” She drapes her arm over Desi’s shoulder and pulls my sister into her side.
Desi shrugs and shakes her head slightly. “Ro, goes to school with your brother.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “Oh, no shit? You know Hardin?”
I shift on the bench and try to stop laughing. But, god, is it hard. My life is so fucked. “Yeah,” I say on a gasp. “I know him.” Know him. Have been tortured by him, have made out with him, have seriously considered having hate sex with him. You know, normal college student things.
“Sorry,” I gasp. “Its just Hardin is not really my favorite person. None of his friends are.”
“Rosalind!” I’m in trouble. Anytime Desi uses my full name, I know I’m in for it. I stop laughing, the smile falling from my lips as my sister glares at me.
Oh, if only she knew. If only she knew what he put me through, she wouldn’t be upset with me. No, she’d fly across the world to kick him in the balls.
“Sorry,” I mutter, taking a sip of my pint.
Sam doesn’t seem to mind, though, smiling good-naturedly. “Yeah, my brother can be a wanker for sure. He’s got the best intentions at heart, though. Even if he appears to be an ass.”
“See,” I say, to my sister. “Its fine.” But Desi doesn’t seem convinced. Her eyes still narrowed on my face. I’m about ninety percent sure she’s going to ask me to explain what my problem is with her girlfriend’s brother.
I tell her with a look it’s none of her damn business.
To which she replies,it’s so my business.
As we sit and talk, I watch them together. Watch the way Desi beams whenever she looks at Sam, the way Sam tucks her into her side and grins down at her, her face all soft and sweet.
An ache starts in my belly. I want this. I want someone who looks at me like that. God, I want someone that I can’t help but smile at every time I see them.
By the time we’re returning to the hotel, I’ve worked myself into quite the malaise. Depression threatening.
If only Hardin wasn’t such a complete ass. If only Ezra wasn’t so hot and cold. If only Gideon wasn’t so standoffish. If only Fielder hadn’t told my secret. Maybe I could have had what Desi has with Sam, with one of them.
I sink into my bed, shaking my head. What a ridiculous thought. I am a ridiculous, silly girl. They are the villains of my story. I shouldn’t want any of them. I shouldn’t want to have their friendship, let alone a romantic relationship with them.
It’s early yet, but I’m exhausted and need to sleep. With any luck, I’ll sleep through the next twelve hours and wake refreshed, ready for sightseeing.
That night my dreams are full of magic and kisses, grins and soft touches. I wake with the ache still there, burning deep in my chest.
Two
“You sure you want to go alone?” Desi’s looking at me with concern. We’re in the hotel's lobby, about to part ways. She’s going upstairs with Sam. I’m going for a walk so that there is no chance of me hearing what they are no doubt about to do behind closed doors.
I’ve heard enough of my sister having sex in the last few days to last me the rest of my life. No one should hear their sibling yell out, “shazam” when they orgasm. No one.
I smile at her and nod. “Yeah, I’m sure. You guys need some alone time. You’ve spent like every second of the last three days with me. I can keep myself busy for a couple of hours.”
